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My jeep was an early build M201, and as a result of that and a 1966 rebuild, has a mix of both Willys and M201 parts. The rear body, grill, engine ( 'MB 465640', casting 8-18 638632 W5 NI-CR N1 ) and some of the drive train are Willys, while the chassis, screen, forward body and several other parts are M201. It carried the Army chassis number 5792, and left the factory in December 1958. When first issued to the Army, it bore the registration 031 026.

Eight years later, it went to be rebuilt by E.R.G.M.( Etablissement de Réserve Générale du Matériel Automobile) at La Maltournée near Paris. It was given the MALT job number 28196, and after rebuild, bore the registration 265-0439, and it is fitted with a rebuild plate dated 3rd June, 1966. Probably at this date, the jeep was upgraded from its original 6volt electrics to 24volt, and the floor starter was relocated to the dash. At some point, perhaps during the factory rebuild, the jeep received a 'Sahara Jeep' screen. This can be distinguished by the spotlight bracket on the left frame of the screen. A light sanding reveals sand coloured paint below the olive and primer. The Sahara Jeep was not an Army modification, but a production line variant. The jeep was also converted at some point to carry radios, and the mounting holes remain in the rear wheel arches showing where the radio trays were attached.

In the following few years, it received a replacement gearbox, possibly towards the end of 1969 or early 1970.The gearbox rebuild plate is dated 21/05/69, the work being completed by ERGM in Vannes, on the western coast of France. A recent new camera purchase has allowed me to get a clear photo of the engine data plate, shown left. The engine rebuild was undertaken by yet another branch of ERGM at Clermont Ferrand in central France. The picture revealed a rebuild date of what appears to be 6/7/87, suggesting the vehicle was still in army service at this date. This date seems to fit in with the markings on the jeep as it was found in February 2005. The grey/white circle, with the black broken 'O', on the side of the jeep was a recognition marking used in the 1980's. Only a few of the jeeps remaining in French Army service carried this marking.

In the late 1980's or early 90's, the jeep was selected for long term storage, and the engine bay components were sealed to keep moisture out. It was sold at auction from Toulouse in the year 2000, and was viewable at the Army Camp at Muret, prior to the sale. It may or may not have served with the Army at Muret, but is most likely to have served in that general area. It was lot number 79 at the sale on 27th of January, going to a dealer in Scotland.

Dodge I purchased the jeep from this dealer in February 2005, and after a little welding and a respray, it was registered, named ( Jessie the Jeep ), and on the road for events by mid April '05. It was initially painted to resemble a Willys MB from the US 100th Bomb Group, copied from three wartime photos, and remained in these markings for three years. 7,500 miles later in early 2008, I wanted the Jeep to look a bit different from all the other green Jeeps, and began to convert the Jeep into a 'Flying Control/Follow Me' Jeep. The conversion included new markings and checkered canvas, a BC-348 radio and aerial, 'Follow Me' light box and warning flag.It can frequently be seen displaying with my Dodge WC51, also in 'Flying Control' markings.

1944 Dodge Weapons Carrier - owned by Stephen Carr

This Dodge WC51 Weapons Carrier is a late build model, rolling off the production line on August 11th 1944. It was produced with the access body with the shorter left side to the rear body, to allow the driver to climb out past the spare wheel. Nothing is known of its wartime history, other than it was shipped to Europe. It probably served on the Continent, as post war, the Dodge entered the service of the Norwegian Army, ending up in the Arctic Circle. Once in the service of the Norwegian Army, it seems that it wasn't used that much, but kept in the reserve vehicle fleet.

From my limited understanding of the Norwegian documents, It was purchased in September 1995, by a Norwegian enthusiast when the vehicle became surplus, and sold on again in July 1999. I think the mileage at this point was 8774. It was kept by this owner until Rupert Fox imported the vehicle at the end of 2004.

When Rupert first bought the truck, the mileometer worked, but the speedo needle didn't. When he came to remove the speedo for repairs, it appears that it had never been apart or out of the dash, suggesting the mileage shown is the true vehicle mileage. The Norwegians did rebuild the Dodge twice during their ownership, and it was probably during these rebuilds that the 1944 truck was mixed up with earlier models. At some point it has also received a much earlier engine to that listed on the build card.

When Rupert imported the Dodge, it remained in olive drab for a few years before his interest in the 100th Bomb Group and flying control operations, resulted in a change to the black and white checkers. Not long after meeting Rupert and the truck, I talked him into a 'Field Conversion' of the rear body to complete the Flying Control conversion.

After six years of ownership, Rupert reluctantly put the Dodge up for sale. After a few days of being on the market, during which I didn't really give it any serious consideration, I had a change of heart, deciding I couldn't let someone else buy it and turn it back to green. The deal was done soon after, and the Dodge became my second military vehicle.

I am now continuing with the conversion, by fitting radios and a meteorological station in the back of the truck.